Church of Saint George and Saint Martin, Baroque church in Martínkovice, Czech Republic.
The Church of Saint George and Saint Martin is an early baroque church built in 1692–1698, with a Greek-cross plan probably designed by Martin Allio of Löwenthal and erected by his nephew Jan Baptista Allio. Its Gothic tower of 1650 was kept as the only surviving part of the earlier church, and a cemetery wall with Stations of the Cross surrounds the building.
A parish church was first mentioned in 1384; a Gothic tower was added in 1650. Abbot Tomáš Sartorius had an early Baroque church built against that tower in 1692–1698, designed probably by Martin Allio of Löwenthal and erected by his nephew Jan Baptista Allio. It was the first of the Broumov group of churches and the only one not designed by the Dientzenhofers.
The church holds a new high altarpiece consecrated on 5 April 1999, painted by Vyacheslav Ilyashenko. Visitors can recognise in it the face of the Broumov vicar Norbert Josef Zeman, shown as a beggar whom Saint Martin covers with his cloak, a reference to the church's finances at the time.
Access is usually available, but it is wise to check opening times in advance since this is an active place of worship. Visitors should dress respectfully and be mindful of any religious services or activities taking place.
The single-manual organ with 744 pipes was built in 1769–1771 by the Broumov organ builder Franz Süssmuth and is the only surviving instrument by him; it was restored in 2010. The altarpiece consecrated in 1999 shows the then Broumov vicar Norbert Josef Zeman painted as a beggar sheltered by Saint Martin's cloak.
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